LAC Motorsports announces new crew chief

INDIANAPOLIS, IND. ­ Kerry Alexander and LAC Motorsports proudly announce the addition of Nicholas Short as crew chief for the two-car Trans-Am Series team sponsored by Wickes Lumber and Trilithic Engineering.

Short, who returns to the Trans-Am Series full time for the 2001 season, brings extensive sports car and road racing experience as he joins team owner and driver Kerry Alexander, Rookie of the Year hopeful Gary Longo and Team Manager Dick DeRose.

Short, a native of England but current resident of North Carolina was attracted to the growing team because, "It sounds like LAC Motorsports is doing it the right way. They have all the key ingredients and they have a good positive attitude. Their choice of cars and people to be associated with is right, and the Wickes sponsorship is great."

With Trans-Am experience dating back to 1991, Short is anxious to work with a two car team, especially one that will be rolling out two brand new Panoz Esperante bodies paired with Elan Power Products chassis and engines.

"The Panoz people know how to build a car that can go fast. That's why I was interested in this opportunity. After I heard about the Panoz and Wickes Association, I knew it was going to be a professional operation," he says.

Short's Trans-Am experience includes work with the Jack Baldwin-driven American Equipment team in the early 1990s and with Paul Gentilozzi's Rocketsports effort. Since his start as a kart racer in England, he has raced all over the world as either mechanic or chief mechanic in a variety of situations including Indy cars, European Sports Cars and the NASCAR Winston Cup Series.

LAC Motorsports was formed in 1989 when Alexander fielded cars in SCCA-sanctioned Touring and Solo II events. After winning several divisional championships, Alexander was crowned 1995 American Sedan National Champion. In 1996 he recorded four SCCA T-1 wins and was crowned National Champion, taking top honors at the Valvoline Runoffs. He competed in the NTB Trans-Am Series for the first time in 1998 and finished 21st in the 1999 BF Goodrich Trans-Am Series points standings with three top ten finishes in just six outings.

In 2000, his first full season in the series, Alexander ran a lean ship but consistently ran in the top ten. The expanded LAC Motorsports team makes its 2001 racing debut at the March 16th Trans-Am Series season opener at Sebring in conjunction with the 12 Hours of Sebring. The team will field two cars for the entire 2001 11-race season.

-LACM